Tips for Small Business Owners: Assessing Your
Transcription
Tips for Small Business Owners: Assessing Your
21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 4:45 PM Page 21 August 11, 2014 • An Advertising Supplement to the Los Angeles Business Journal Banking & Finance Tips for Small Business Owners: Assessing Your Banking Relationship T’S always a good time for small business owners to reassess their company’s financial health and their relationship with their bank. The American Bankers Association offers the following tips to help small business owners enhance their current banking relationship or choose the best bank for their needs. Many small business owners have been wondering what it takes these days to get a bank loan. One way to influence your bank’s decision is to establish a personal relationship with your banker that shows him or her just how valuable your business is. Banks value long-term, profitable business banking relationships. Bankers reward these firms by extending credit with the most favorable interest rates. These businesses and their bankers understand that developing a meaningful relationship is a two-way process—your banker has a role to play and so do you. So how do you know if you have a meaningful and valued relationship with your bank? To find out, take the following “relationship test.” Respond to the seven statements below with “true” or “false.” I 1 My firm has a bank relationship manager assigned to our account and we have contact (by phone or in person) at least once per quarter to update the bank on recent developments at our firm and within our industry. 2 Our bank relationship manager understands our industry, our position in the industry, our firm’s value proposition, where we are today and where we’d like to be in the future. 3 We provide our banker with updated financial information (historical and projected balance sheet, income statement, cash flow information to include projection assumptions and commentary on actual performance) regarding our progress toward achieving our goals on a timely basis. 4 Our senior management team meets annually with our relationship manager and his/her boss to discuss our firm’s financial performance and challenges and to understand the bank’s perception of our performance. 5 Our relationship manager proactively brings us ideas to help us achieve our goals. 6 We understand how the current economic crisis has affected our bank and our relationship with the bank (i.e., the availability of credit to our firm and the safety of our deposits). 7 Our firm makes sure that our banker is aware of all of our business with the bank (e.g., both business and personal) and that it makes money on our total banking relationship. In addition, our firm provides our banker with referrals to other profitable businesses. If you were able to respond “true” to all seven of these statements, you have positioned your firm well with your banker. If you answered “true” to five or six, you still have room for improvement in developing a meaningful dialogue with your banker and benefiting from his or her advice and counsel. If you answered “true” to four or fewer, you have not positioned your firm well with your banker and are putting your firm at a competitive disadvantage in terms of: ● Receiving the funds you need to grow and prosper. ● Obtaining the best rates available for the financial products and services your business needs to operate. ● Receiving “ideas and advice” to help you achieve your desired business goals. Your firm should seek a bank that rewards a relationship approach to doing business with them, and a banker who is able to give your firm the financial advice that it needs to survive and thrive in today’s ever changing economy. In return, your firm should reward this bank with your business and loyalty. Information for this article was provided by the American Bankers Association. This special advertising supplement did not involve the reporting or editing staff of the Los Angeles Business Journal. 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 4:45 PM Page 22 22 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 11, 2014 BANKING & FINANCE California Legislature Considering Amendment to UCC Article 9 Regarding Name of Individual Debtor By Neil J. Rubenstein HE California Legislature, in its current session, is considering an amendment to Uniform Commercial Code Article 9, that would change the way individual debtors are identified in UCC financing statements. The proposed amendment is contained in Assembly Bill No. 1858, introduced by Assembly Member Henry Perea on February 19, 2014. The amendment would bring California into line with 40 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico which have already enacted similar legislation. As of July 30, 2014, the bill had passed the California Assembly and was pending in the Senate. T The Existing Rule and the Proposed Change The Uniform Commercial Code says that, when a financing statement is filed to perfect a security interest in personal property of an individual, the financing statement is to be filed in the state in which the individual’s principal residence is located. It says that the “name” of the individual should be stated on the financing statement. The existing version of Article 9 provides no guidance as to what is meant by “name,” other than that the financing statement must “identify the debtor’s last name.” Financing statements are used almost exclusively for business (as opposed to consumer) transactions. This lack of guidance for names of individuals has led to confusion, because the same person may use several different names. For example, a person may commonly use a nickname (Jon vs. Jonathan) or use a middle name rather than the first name shown on his or her birth certificate. In addition, a person may change his or her name as a result of marriage, divorce, or otherwise, with the result that a name shown on a particular document may no longer be correct. Also, because laws have been enacted in recent years prohibiting the inclusion of Social Security numbers on UCC financing statements, it is sometimes difficult or impossible to determine whether a particular name (e.g., John Smith) belongs to the proposed borrower or whether it belongs to an entirely different person. This confusion frequently arises when a lender considering making a secured loan conducts a search to determine whether a UCC financing statement has previously been filed against the prospective borrower covering the property the lender proposes to take as collateral. UCC financing statements are indexed by the debtor’s name, and searches are conducted by a computer search under the name. For a search to be effective, therefore, the lender would have to search under every name the borrower has ever used. If the lender is unaware of a particular name the borrower has used, it would not know to search under that name. Assembly Bill No. 1858 would revise California UCC Section 9503 to provide that, if an individual has an unexpired driver’s license or a DMV-issued personal identification card (the DMV will only issue one of those items to an individual), a financing statement identifying that person as a debtor must, in order to be effective, state that person’s name as set forth on the driver’s license or personal identification card. If the person does not have either an unexpired driver’s license or DMV-issued personal identification card, it is sufficient if his or her “name” is shown on the financing statement (which is the current standard). Availability of Information About Driver’s License/Personal Identification Card Name Existing federal and California law allow a lender to verify driver’s license or personal identification card infor- mation of this type. The federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act of 1994, as amended, contains certain prohibitions on state departments of motor vehicles from disclosing information from state motor vehicle records, but contains certain exemptions allowing disclosure (a) to verify personal information submitted by the individual provided that certain conditions are satisfied; (b) for use in any, civil, criminal, administrative, or arbitral proceeding before a government agency; or (c) if the affected individual consents in writing to the disclosure (special restrictions exist for “highly restricted personal information,” defined as an individual’s photograph or image, social security number, medical or disability information). Similarly, although California law prohibits or strictly limits disclosure of certain DMV information such as information about a person’s address or medical condition, and pictures of a person, it does permit disclosure of information to verify that an individual does in fact have an unexpired driver’s license or personal identification card, and to verify the name on that driver’s license or personal identification card if done in compliance with the federal law. The DMV has established procedures for non-governmental “commercial requesters” and “casual requesters” to obtain information from the Department of Motor Vehicles of this type. The Amendment is Desirable The proposed Amendment is desirable for numerous reasons, including the following: ● Most individuals who borrow money for a business transaction have either a driver’s license or personal identification card, and have it readily available. They are commonly used means of identification, and thus familiar to most people. If the lender so desires, the information provided can be readily verified by reference to a public record. ● The “correct” name to put on the UCC financing statement, and the “correct” name under which to conduct a search, will be easily ascertainable by reference to the driver’s license or personal identification card, and will therefore greatly simplify the process. ● The vast majority of states have adopted this provision. Many transactions cover multiple states or involve parties doing business in multiple states. A uniform standard will significantly improve efficiency and minimize the possibility of mistakes. Transition Rules If enacted, Assembly Bill No. 1858 would be effective January 1, 2015. The bill states that a financing statement that was effective prior to the effective date of the amendment remains effective until it would have ceased to be effective had the amendment not taken Neil J. Rubenstein is an attorney and a Shareholder in Buchalter Nemer’s Bank & Finance and Real Estate Practice Groups in San Francisco. He testified on behalf of the California Bankers Association in support of Assembly Bill No. 1858 before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. effect. Thus, existing perfected security interests remain so. At expiration of a financing statement, any continuation statement necessary to continue the effectiveness of the financing statement must contain an amendment to the debtor’s name if necessary to comply with the statute as amended. Credit Dos and Don’ts know the power of credit. Banks look at your credit history as an indication of your future financial behavior. By using credit wisely, you can build a good credit history making it easier to get loans with low interest rates, rent an apartment, purchase a car or home, and may even help you get a job. DO read the fine print on the credit application. The application is a contract, so read it carefully before signing. Credit card companies are very competitive so interest rates, credit limits, grace periods, annual fees, terms and conditions may vary. DO pay at least the minimum due and contact your creditor if you have trouble making payments. This will help you to avoid late fees and a rising APR. To pay off your balance quicker, D O pay more than the minimum due. If you are unable to make the minimum monthly payments, let your creditor know so they can work with you to create a more manageable payment plan. DO be wary of anyone who claims they can “fix” your credit report. No one can legally remove negative accurate information from your credit history. The only thing that can fix a credit report is time and a positive payment history. DO order a copy of your credit report annually. You have the right to know what is in your credit report. The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three major credit bureaus to provide you with a free copy of your credit report at your request each year. Your credit evaluates you as a borrower and needs to be accurate. To get a free copy of your credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com. DON’T feel pressure to get a credit card. If you don’t want one, you have the right to say “no.” Under the new CARD Act 2009 consumers aged 18-21 cannot be solicited for credit. If you no longer wish to receive prescreened offers, opt out by calling 1-888-5OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. DON’T pay your bills late. Late payments can affect your credit rating and increase your balance. If you are unable to pay the minimum monthly payment, let your creditor know and they may be able to lower your payments. DON’T spend more than you can afford. Credit is a loan and has to be repaid. It is your responsibility to manage your debts and to keep your commit- ment with lenders. Avoid reaching your credit limit or “maxing out” your cards. DON’T ignore the warning signs of credit trouble. If you pay only the minimum balance, pay late, use cashadvances to fund daily living expenses or transfer a lot of balances you might be in the “credit” danger zone. Talk to a financial counseling organization to regain control of your finances. DON’T share your credit card number. Never give out credit card or personal information if you have not initiated the transaction. Be aware of identity theft and phishing scams that ask for credit card numbers. If you suspect that your identity has been compromised, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-ID-THEFT (1-877-438-4338); TDD: 202-326-2502, or visit www.ftc.gov/idtheft. 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/6/2014 3:41 PM Page 23 AUGUST 11, 2014 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL 23 As an accounting firm, we love numbers. Here are a few of our favorites. 101 Years in business 97 Countries served 33 Major industries served (Through Praxity, AISBL) (310) 477-0450 W W W. M O S S A D A M S . C O M 10 California offices 5.0 Staff to partner ratio 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 4:45 PM Page 24 24 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 11, 2014 BANKING & FINANCE A Closer Look at Financial Advisors and the Role they Play a society that grows more complex every day, consumers are presented with the constant pressures of family, career, and community responsibilities and personal enrichment. The financial marketplace is ever-changing with new laws, regulations, economic events, market changes, product offerings and conflicting media messages. Making the right financial moves at the right time is critical to achieving security and accomplishing personal objectives. A personal advisor guides the financial planning process: goal identification, data organization, analysis, problem identification, recommendations, and most important - plan implementation and results monitoring. Your advisor will help you save, spend, invest, insure and plan wisely for the future. A Registered Financial Consultant has met the qualifications required to serve the public effectively, and moreover, is committed to essential professional continuing education. You can’t delegate your job, career, civic or family responsibilities - but you can obtain qualified, professional financial advice and service. I N What is the RFC Designation? The Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) is a professional designation awarded by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants to those financial advisors who can meet the high standards of Because there are no consistent licensing requirements for the various persons who call themselves “financial planners” the public has a critical need for a method of distinguishing the qualified and dedicated financial advisor. education, experience and integrity that are required of all its members. The IARFC is a non-profit professional credentialing organization of proven financial professionals formed to foster public confidence in the financial planning profession, to help financial advisors exchange planning techniques, and to give deserved recognition to those practitioners who are truly committed to ethical standards and continuous professional education. Because there are no consistent licensing requirements for the various persons who call themselves “financial planners” the public has a critical need for a method of distinguishing the qualified and dedicated financial advisor. What is the purpose of the IARFC? The primary purpose of the IARFC is to provide the public with a convenient access to a pool of well-qualified practitioners from which to choose a personal financial advisor. It is the only professional organization that requires all of its members to meet and document seven stringent requirements of education, experience, examination, integrity, licensing, ethics and a significant amount of continuing professional education. RFC Examination Process The comprehensive RFC examination covers a wide range of subject matter; Priciples of Personal Finance, Debt and Cash Flow Management, Employee and Government Benefits, Annuities, Securities, Investments and Asset Allocation, Life, Health and Casualty Insurance, Education and Special Needs Funding, Estate Planning, Survivor Income Needs Analysis, and Retirement Income. RFC continuing education requirements: Each year the RFC must complete a minimum of 40 units (hours) of professional continuing education. This includes college courses, educational symposiums, credentialing courses, distance learning programs and practitioner conferences. Many RFCs are instructors at colleges and conferences. What about other professional designations? We hold the RFC designation to be different and perhaps more encompassing. However, the IARFC does not assert that many other professional designations or their organizations are inferior. The public is not served by divisive criticism, but rather by dedicated and wellprepared professionals. Our goal is to encourage professional conduct and collaborate between professional advisors, with strong emphasis on the importance of continuing education. How does the IARFC maintain and publish the credibility of its members? The IARFC removes the designation from anyone who fails to maintain proficiency through substantial continuing education, or who betrays the public trust by failing to live up to its Code of Ethics or by having a professional license revoked or suspended for misconduct or any reason. This article was provided by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. 21 28_banking&finance.qxp AUGUST 11, 2014 8/6/2014 3:40 PM Page 25 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL 25 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 4:45 PM Page 26 26 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 11, 2014 BANKING & FINANCE When and How to Sell Your Business By Scott Rouse HEN a wave of consolidation hits an industry - a classic example is funeral homes, but many others are developing — an independent owner is forced into some choices. You can sell, and join the trend, or you can maintain your independence — and face stiffer competition than ever before. The consolidators have access to more plentiful and more inexpensive capital, and they benefit from economies of scale. They can drive prices down when they choose to seek market share. It can be advantageous to be the first in your region to sell to the consolidator. You might get a higher price, and you might be chosen as a “flagship” for the area. Other acquisitions made in the region would then come under your management — and you might enjoy acquiring other businesses with someone else’s money. If you delay, your profits might be reduced by the impact of new competition, and you would have a less robust business to sell. The best advice is to be prepared. A company making several acquisitions in an industry is comparing managements. Many well-run and highly profitable businesses function perfectly well without a business plan, but professional managers in public companies have such plans, and today you can acquire software to help you accomplish the task for about $100. W Overconfidence is the first mistake commonly made. Buyers know the subtleties of mergers and acquisitions; for sellers it is usually all new. It is not an even match. So sellers should consult lawyers and accountants early to understand the tax and other issues that recur. Documentation, like a business plan, allows a prospective buyer to evaluate a business more readily. The buyer’s focus is on expected profits, and a business plan is where you tabulate these projections. It means less disruption of your business if much of the evaluation of your business can be accomplished off-site. And disruption of your business can unsettle employees and customers, and it can threaten its value. Financial statements are central to any discussion of selling a business. They become more important than ever, and professional presentation will impress the buyer and allow the transaction to proceed quickly. Audited or certified statements would allow you to make the best possible impression, and might allow you to demand more in cash at the closing (because the audited statements reduce the buyer’s risks). Mistakes Sellers Make Overconfidence is the first mistake commonly made. Buyers know the sub- tleties of mergers and acquisitions; for sellers it is usually all new. It is not an even match. So sellers should consult lawyers and accountants early to understand the tax and other issues that recur. You can sell the assets of your business, or you can sell the shares of your corporation, and the tax consequences are quite different. Buyers typically prefer to buy assets, and sellers typically prefer to sell shares. You must consult professionals to understand, in advance, how much money is at stake. You need to know the tax treatment of payments for a consulting agreement, or a non-compete agreement. The buyer is likely to suggest that part of the price be attributed to such agreements, but the taxes on these payments are higher than the capital gains rates that usually apply to the sale of the business. Timidity can be another problem. Sellers don’t ask buyers enough questions, especially about the financing. Buyers often want to borrow part of the purchase price from someone - usually a bank, or the seller, or both. Notes owed to sellers are almost always subordinated to bank debt, and the unsuspecting seller does not discover this until final papers are being reviewed. A seller who expects to be owed money by the buyer after the closing — for notes, payments under a non-compete agreement, or a consulting agreement — should understand the buyer’s proposed balance sheet for the day after the closing. Few sellers ask enough questions about the planned financing. Negotiations If you want to sell your business, you strive to get an offer in writing. It is a key milestone towards the target. But too early it is a problem. An offer in writing routinely asks the seller to accept within about two weeks, and it routinely asks the seller to stop talking to other buyers. A seller should not accept an offer before developing a sense of what other buyers might be willing to pay – and this takes time. Take time to understand an offer thoroughly — is the buyer going to assume the debts in your business, or expecting you to pay them off out of the price? The best weapon of a seller in negotiations is a good, credible alternative, another buyer or a decision to keep Continued on page 28 Real Money. Real People. Real Jobs. Southern California’s Premier Community Bank Since 1945. When we founded our own community bank in 1945, it was out of need. Banks weren’t lending to businesses, so we built our own. We now stand with more than $3.4 billion in assets and 17 business centers—and counting. We’re no longer just a community bank. MICROLOANS SMALL BUSINESS LOANS $1,000 - $50,000 $50,000 - $700,000 We are Community Bank. cbank.com 800.788.9999 SBA Preferred Lender | Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender The largest alternative lender to small businesses in Los Angeles 818-907-9977 • www.vedc.org 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 12:09 PM Page 27 AUGUST 11, 2014 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL 27 T H E POWE R O F CARING Already with nine psychiatric facilities in three states, and five more on the horizon, Signature Healthcare founder Dr. Soon Kim knows what it will take to successfully expand his business. The key is having a passionate vision, solid planning, understanding the market and having the right team which includes a banking partner that has the resources to help you realize your vision. It’s a powerful, and healthy combination. IF YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS TALK WITH US. | 213.362.5200 F ROM POS SIBIL I T Y T O AC T U A L I T Y Featuring Sunny Han-Jeon, SVP/Regional Manager, Torrey Pines Bank in center. Dr. Soon Kim, CEO and Eric Kim, CIO of Signature Healthcare. TORREYPINESBANK.COM Torrey Pines Bank is a division of Western Alliance Bank. Member FDIC. 21 28_banking&finance.qxp 8/7/2014 4:46 PM Page 28 28 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL AUGUST 11, 2014 BANKING & FINANCE Continued from page 26 the business. The smartest sellers keep the buyer guessing — guessing about how interested they are in making the deal, and at what price. They know that getting too friendly too early (this is tempting, and a natural instinct in these circumstances) can be costly — buyers won’t stretch to the top end of their price range if the deal appears “in the bag.” Negotiations for the sale of a business extend beyond one day, and they often last several weeks. After a handshake on the price, the buyer investigates the business, the due diligence. The buyer can often point to some new information and say this is a reason to decrease the price. The seller is now weaker than the buyer – the buyer can walk away without stigma; the seller, on the other hand, may be considered “soiled goods” if the deal is not completed. This underscores the importance of doing your homework about the buyer, and talking to others that have dealt with them, before you shake hands on a deal. The stakes are high, financially and emotionally. The best price usually comes when the seller agrees to run the business for the new owner for a few years. Then price is not the seller’s only concern. The working environment could cause extraordinary stress, and exact a price of its own. Banking Survey Shows HSA Accounts Provide Financial Flexibility for Consumers new survey on health savings accounts’ (HSAs) financial activity shows that HSA plans are a valuable financial tool for consumers, providing flexibility to cover immediate medical expenses and to save for future health care costs. More than half (52 percent) of all account holders spent more than 80 percent of their HSA funds for health care expenses during 2012, according to the survey conducted by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and the American Bankers Association’s HSA Council. Since Congress authorized HSA plans in 2004, AHIP has conducted three surveys on HSA banking activity. This latest report measuring the financial activity of more than 1.4 million HSAs shows consumers taking an active role in managing their health care dollars. “This study confirms that HSAs are being used as they were designed: to pay for routine health care needs and to save towards future medical expenses,” ABA’s HSA Council Executive Director Kevin McKechnie said. “HSAs have the advantage of offering consumers A greater choice and control over their health care.” Consumers rely on HSAs when planning for future medical expenses. More than half (55 percent) of all HSAs received personal contributions during 2012. While end of the year account balances varied, roughly 80 percent of accounts surveyed had a positive balance that could be carried over to the next year to help pay for future expenses. “The health care needs of individuals and families are diverse, and HSA plans offer consumers important flexibility and support to make the spending decisions that are right for them,” AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni said. Key findings from the AHIP/ABA’s HSA Council banking survey include: ● More than half (55 percent) of all HSAs received personal contributions during 2012 and 44 percent of the accounts received employer contributions. Of those accounts, the average personal contribution was $2,337 and the average contribution from employers was $1,142. ● Fifty-eight percent of all accounts had withdrawals during the year. Of those accounts, the average withdrawal during 2012 was $2,081. ● Nineteen percent of all accounts had $0 available at the end of the year. Thirty-one percent had $1 $499, 11 percent had $500-$999, 12 percent had $1000-$1999, 14 percent had $2000-$4999, and 12 percent had at least $5000. To learn more about the value of HSA plans, visit the Health Savings Alliance at www.hsaalliance.org. The American Bankers Association is the voice of the nation’s $14 trillion banking industry, which is composed of small, regional and large banks that together employ more than 2 million people, safeguard $11 trillion in deposits and extend nearly $8 trillion in loans. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) is the national trade association representing the health insurance industry. AHIP’s members provide health and supplemental benefits to more than 200 million Americans through employer-sponsored coverage, the individual insurance market, and public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Scott Rouse is a freelance writer and merger/acquisition specialist. C A L L F O R N O M I N AT I O N S The role of in-house counsel has never been more important or more visible as companies face increasingly complex legal and regulatory challenges. The Los Angeles Business Journal would like to acknowledge the significant role that in-house counsel plays in the success of a business enterprise and recognize the accomplishments of leading in-house attorneys within the Los Angeles business community. Candidates in each category will be recognized for exceptional legal skill and achievement across the full spectrum of in-house responsibility, exemplary leadership as evidenced by the highest professional and ethical standards, and for contributions to the Los Angeles community at large. Nomination Deadline: Monday, September 1, 2014 PRESENTING SPONSORS: Awards will be presented in the following categories: • Public Company • Government/Municipal/Public Sector • Private Company • Rising Star • Nonprofit Company To nominate for this event please visit www.labusinessjournal.com/bizevents, or contact Mary Kaminski at 323.549.5225 ext. 213 email: [email protected] GOLD SPONSORS: Moss Adams LLP USI of Southern California Insurance Services, Inc.